What process involves heating finely ground powder under pressure?

The process that involves heating finely ground powder under pressure is ceramic processing. This method typically includes techniques such as sintering, where powdered materials are compacted and then heated to a temperature below their melting point. This process causes the particles to bond together, resulting in a solid, dense material.

Ceramic processing is widely used for producing various ceramic products, including tiles, tableware, and advanced materials like ceramics used in aerospace and medical applications. The fine powder is crucial because it allows for the creation of specific shapes and minimizes porosity in the final product, leading to improved strength and durability.

In contrast, extrusion involves forcing material through a die to create specific shapes, melting refers to turning solids into liquids, and electroforming is a process that deposits metal from a solution onto a cathode. Each of these processes differs significantly in purpose and methodology from ceramic processing.